Grappling tongs



Sept. 29, 1931. c. B. COLLOM T AL 1,325,179

GRAPPLING TONGS Filed Dc. 2. 1929 IN VEN TOR. L m %wL ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT 7, OFFICE CLARENCE B. COLLOM AND DWIGHT HORTON, OF DALLAS, TEXAS, ASSIGNORS OIE IE1TY PER CENT T W. L. THORNTON AND F. 7. BARTLETT, BOTH OF DALLAS, TEXAS GRAEPLIN G TONGS Application filed December 2, 1929. d Serial No. 410,951.

This invention relates to handling and hoist line implements and has particular reference to grappling tongs for handling heavy objects such as pipe sections, boilers,

tanks and the like, and capable of operation from the end of a cable attached to a crane excavating machine, or drag line and its principal object resides in the provision of a device calculated to facilitate the handling of bulky, unwieldy objects, such as mentioned above, and eliminate much of the time and eflort ordinarily requisite in displacing such objects.

Another object of the invention is manifest in the provision of a device for the purposes set forth embodying a novel arrangement of parts cooperating t0 automatically engage an object to be removed and secure the same until such time as the object is deposited at the desired point vvhen it is automatically released, doing away with the necessity of manual effort other than to guide the device to the point of securement on the object to be handled.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of an apparatus, simple in construction and having few working parts, yet capable of many uses such as have been set out in the foregoing t0 expe- 33 dite the work incident to the laying of heavy pipe lines, loading and unloading heavy pipe sections and boilers, setting boilers and the performance of many other accomplishments ordinarily requiring the use of cables and considerable manual effort.

The foregoing and many other objects Will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein;

" Figure 1 is an elevational view of the invention gripping-a pipe section and show in; in dotted lines, the relative positions of upward through an eve bolt 9, wh1ch also the tongs when opened. Figure 2 is a perspective elevatmnal v1eW showing the t0ngs gripping a pipe section and position of the operating cable, and

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device showing the op clevis and e ve bolt guide through F which the operating cable works. The ordinary method of raising or otherdevice is so constructed that when suspended at the end of the cable 5, the result will be 'lower ends 2 to close upon an ob iect 6 to be -its best,.is not only unsatisfactory from the standpoint of efiiciency but is extremely dangerous both to human life and to property. Unless the object being handled is balanced, in the sling prepared in the cable arranged around it, one end Will drop and allow the object to drop to the ground with possible injury to men and damage to property. It will presentl v be shown that accidents would be greatly minimized by the use nf the apparatus herein described.

Accordinglv, the invention comprises, primarilv two S-shaped members or elements,

opposingl v pivoted at a, so as to define a substantially circular gripping area between their lovver ends 2, as shown in Figures 1 and. 2. Pivoted to the upper ends ofthe members 1 are provided connecting links 3, i the latter beinrz pivoted together in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 2 at b to which is attached a clevis 4 to which a cable 5 is aflixed for lifting the device.

As Will be seen in the illustrations,tbe

t0 urge the upper ends of the members 1 toward each other consequentlv causing the raised and grasp the latter firmlv, as shown in Figure 1.

A'clevis 7 is provided at the pivot point a to which is also attached a cable 8 whicli fonctions to open the device when it is desired to engage an obiect for removal. The cable 8 is secured to the clevis 7 and extends functions at the pivot 7), and to the operator, who may open or close the device at Will at the upper ends whereupon the lower ends v by itsmanipulatiOn. It is obvious that when wil1 release the object 6 in the manner shown in dotted limes in Figure 1.

In order that a positive grip may be had within the grappiing area of the tongs, a multiplicity of projection 10 are provided to prevent the object 6 from siipping ont 01 being displaced lateraiiy when the tongs are not secured in the approximate gravity center of the object to be lifted causing the latter to become unbalanced at one end. These projections are preferab1y of a type of angle bar such as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

In operation thorefore, when it is desired to use the device for handling pipe sections, for example, a crane or similar machine is used having a cabie 5 to which the apparatus is attached in the n1anner iiustrated in Figures 1 and 2. ne de ice is iowered upon the object 6 to be removed whereupon the cabie 8 is pulied upward to cause the tongs 2 to open to aliow them to pass around the object. At this point it is only necessary to release the tension on the cable 8 and allow the tongs 2 to l'est upon the object 6 and tighten the cable 5. The obvious result is the puiiing in of the toggle joints oi: the links 8 to tighten the grip of the tongs upon the object, whereup0n the' latter may be lifted and moved.

Though the invention has been described with great particularity, the details oi:' the embodiment of the invention her'ein shOwn are not to be construed as being limd thereto, as changes in arrangement and substitution of eqnivalents may be made by chose skiHed in the art without departing from the invention as defined in the append ed claims,

.Vhat is claimed is:

1. Grappling tongs including substantially S-shaped members, pivota1lyjoined together in reverse e1ationship for scissorlike movement, the iower ends of which are curved on the same plane as the upper ends thereof to engage cyiindrical objects transversely, the said npper ends being reiativeiy paraliei in normal position and linked together at their tops, providing a central pivot in alinement with the pivotal connection between said 1ncmbers, a 100p at said central pivot to receive a cabie, an-eye adjacent said 100 to receive another cable and means at the pivotal oonnection between said1nemers to receive the end of said latter cable.

2. Grappling tongs including substantial- 1y :3-shaped members arranged in pairs and joined together for pivotai move1nent whereby the lower ends 01" said members Will confomnabiy receive cylindrical objects transverseiy, shoes arranged at spaced intervals on the lower ends of said members to stabilize an object embraced by said 10W er ends, means engagcabie at a point adjacent the pivotal point of said members to i eceive a sable, pivotally connected means oin ing the upper ends of said members and having a 100p adjacent thereto for receiving another cable and a guide member adjacent said 100p for receiving said first cable.

In testimony whereof we aifix our signa tares.

CLAREN CE B. COLLOM. D.VIGIIT HORTON. 

